SBM will hold seminars for seniors

The State Bar of Michigan Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, in partnership with the SBM Elder Law and Disability Rights and SBM Probate and Estate Planning sections, will present a seminar to inform and empower senior citizens in estate planning decisions on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 28 senior centers in nine Michigan counties: Genesee, Isabella, Kalkaska, Kent, Livingston, Marquette, Oakland, Shiawassee, and Wayne. The start time of each 60-minute-long seminar will be set by local senior centers between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The seminar, "A Living Trust Education Initiative: Who Should You Trust? Avoiding Estate Planning Mistakes," will provide senior citizens, including veterans applying for Veterans Affairs benefits, with essential estate planning information and caution them about deceptive sales practices that could potentially jeopardize their economic stability. It will include a short presentation by licensed Michigan attorneys and a dynamic question and answer period to allow program participants to obtain accurate information about estate planning matters and effective probate avoidance techniques. Seminar participants will receive a folder containing estate planning information and other materials to help them avoid estate planning mistakes and being victimized by persons selling annuities for their own economic gain. SBM Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee Chair Christopher G. Hastings, SBM Elder Law and Disability Rights Section Chair Caroline M. Dellenbusch, and SBM Probate and Estate Section Chair George W. Gregory enthusiastically embrace this community outreach program and encourage their members to participate in it as a meaningful way to protect the public from harm by empowering senior citizens to make informed decisions. For more information, contact your local senior center or State Bar of Michigan Professional Standards Division Paralegal Amy Emmons at (517) 346-6343 or by e-mail to aemmons @mail. michbar.org. Published: Mon, Jul 30, 2012